Apparatus for releasably securing footwear

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an apparatus for releasably securing footwear and, more specifically, to fasteners secured to lateral portions of a pair of shoes that releasably secures the first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual. Advantageously the invention ensures that the shoes are not separated or lost upon removal in, for example, public areas such as indoor playgrounds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/350,960, filed Jun. 3, 2010, in the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office. This application incorporates the earlierprovisional application by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for releasably securing footwearand, more specifically, to multiple fasteners secured to lateralportions of a pair of shoes that releasably secures the first and secondshoes together upon removal from an individual. Advantageously theinvention ensures that the shoes are not separated or lost upon removalin, for example, public areas such as indoor playgrounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus comprises in one embodiment a first fastener secured to afirst shoe of a pair, and a second fastener secured to a second shoe ofthe pair such that the first and second fasteners releasably secure thefirst and second shoes together upon removal from an individual. Theinvention prevents shoes from becoming misplaced at indoor playgrounds(e.g., at fast food restaurants), outdoor playgrounds, closets, or atthe entrance to a home or office.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention and themanner in which the same are accomplished will become clearer based onthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus of FIG.1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodimentof the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout.

As used herein, it will be appreciated that the terms “fixed” and“secured” may include sewn, made integral with, adhered with adhesive,or bonded with heat. It will be also understood that the terms “section”and “portion” refer to various areas of the shoes. It will be furtherunderstood that the term “lateral” refers to the side of the shoe thatis adjacent to the lateral portion of a foot upon wear. In contrast, theterm “medial” refers to the side of the shoe that is adjacent to themedial portion of a foot upon wear. It further will be understood thatthe terms “interior surface” and “exterior surface” may be referred toas “inside surface” and “outside surface.” Stated differently, as usedherein the term interior surface implies the side of the shoe closest tothe foot of the wearer. Thus, it will be understood that the termexterior surface implies the side of the shoe opposite the interiorsurface (i.e., the side farthest from the foot of the wearer).

An overall view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the presentinvention is set forth at 10 in the perspective view of FIG. 1. Theapparatus comprises a first fastener 11 secured to a first shoe 12 of apair 13, and a second fastener 14 secured to a second shoe 15 of thepair, wherein the first and second fasteners 11, 14 releasably securethe first and second shoes together upon removal from an individual.

As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 may besecured to a lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes 12, 15.The first and second fasteners 11, 14 are secured to the lateral portion16 as opposed to medial portion of the shoes to prevent any potentialtripping if the individual were very young and the shoes were placedclose together during wear or walking.

The first and second fasteners 11, 14 may be sewn into any part of thefabric forming the lateral portion of the shoes 12, 15. In oneembodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 maybe secured to an upper lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes12, 15. In another embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the first and secondfasteners 11, 14 may secured to a lower lateral portion 16 of the firstand second shoes 12, 15. More specifically, the first and secondfasteners 11, 14 may be secured to a lateral portion 16 of the soles ofthe first and second shoes 12, 15 (i.e., heel 17 of the shoes).

In one embodiment, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 are magnetshaving opposite polarities such that the magnets are attracted to oneanother upon removal when lateral portions 16 of the shoes 13 are placedclose to each other, thereby drawing the pair of shoes 13 together. Themagnets may be formed from alloys of rare earth elements.Advantageously, the rare earth magnets are the strongest type ofpermanent magnets and typically have a magnetic field in excess of 1.4teslas.

In another embodiment, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 may beformed of corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.

The invention may also include decorative devices 18 that are releasablysecured against the first and second fasteners 11, 14 of the shoes. Thedevices 18 include a fastener 19 that that releasably secures the deviceto the first and second fasteners 11, 14. In one embodiment, thefastener 19 of the decorative devices 18 is a magnet having an oppositepolarity than the first and second fasteners 11, 14. In anotherembodiment, the fastener 19 may be formed of hooks or loops thatcorrespondingly engage the hook-and-loop fasteners of one embodiment ofthe first and second fasteners 11, 14.

The decorative devices 18 may be in any number of shapes such asbutterflies, flowers, and the like. Accordingly, the devices 18 providethe option of enhancing the appearance of the shoes at the discretion ofthe wearer. The devices 18 may be releasably secured to the shoes duringwear, and then removed prior to releasably securing the shoes togetherwhen taken off. Upon removal, the devices 18 may be placed in a pocketor purse or any suitable container to avoid loss.

In use, an individual (e.g., a child) wearing the invention 10 wouldremove her shoes 13 prior to entry into, for example, an indoorplayground at a fast-food restaurant. Thereafter, she would place theshoes 13 on the floor surface adjacent to one another such that thelateral portions 16 of the shoes bearing the first and second fasteners11, 14 face one another. In one embodiment, the magnets forming thefirst and second fasteners 11, 14 would attract one another and draw theshoes 13 together. Alternatively, these steps may be taken while holdingthe shoes prior to placement on the floor surface.

In another embodiment, the user would remove her shoes 13 and releasablysecure the corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners on the lateral portionsof the shoes to one another.

Upon return to the shoes 13, the user would separate the shoes 13,position them on the floor, and place the shoes on her feet.Advantageously, the shoes 13 would not become separated due to contactwith other individuals who are similarly removing their shoes or playingthe local area. Moreover, the invention would prevent the misplacing ofshoes 13 placed in closets or storage areas. Still further, theinvention would prevent shoes 13 from becoming misplaced at entrances tohouses or buildings and facilitate a neat and orderly arrangementthereof.

In another embodiment, the invention includes a pair of shoes 13 thatare releasably secured to one another. The pair of shoes incorporates anapparatus 10 for releasably securing the pair of shoes. The apparatusincludes a first fastener 11 secured to a first shoe 12 of the pair 13,and a second fastener 14 secured to a second shoe 15 of the pair. Thisembodiment also includes at least one decorative device 18 that isreleasably securable to the first and second fasteners 11, 14. The firstand second fasteners 11, 14 are secured to a lateral portion of thefirst and second shoes, and the first and second fasteners releasablysecure the first and second shoes together upon removal from anindividual.

In one embodiment, the first and second fasteners 11, 14 are secured toan upper lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes 12, 15. Inanother embodiment the first and second fasteners 11, 14 are secured toa lower lateral portion 16 of the first and second shoes.

The first and second fasteners may include magnets having oppositepolarities, or corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typicalembodiments on the invention and, although specific terms have beenemployed, they have been used in a generic and descriptive sense onlyand not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being setforth in the following claims.

1. An apparatus for releasably securing footwear, said apparatuscomprising: a first fastener secured to a first shoe of a pair; and asecond fastener secured to a second shoe of said pair; wherein saidfirst and second fasteners releasably secure the first and second shoestogether upon removal from an individual.
 2. An apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to a lateralportion of the first and second shoes.
 3. An apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to an upperlateral portion of the first and second shoes.
 4. An apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to alower lateral portion of the first and second shoes.
 5. An apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are securedto a lateral portion of the soles of the first and second shoes.
 6. Anapparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second fastenersare magnets having opposite polarities.
 7. An apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said first and second fasteners are correspondinghook-and-loop fasteners.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 furthercomprising at least one decorative device that is releasably securableto said first and second fasteners.
 9. An apparatus for releasablysecuring footwear, said apparatus comprising: a first fastener securedto a first shoe of a pair; and a second fastener secured to a secondshoe of said pair; wherein said first and second fasteners are securedto a lateral portion of the first and second shoes; and wherein saidfirst and second fasteners releasably secure the first and second shoestogether upon removal from an individual.
 10. An apparatus according toclaim 9 wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to an upperlateral portion of the first and second shoes.
 11. An apparatusaccording to claim 9 wherein said first and second fasteners are securedto a lower lateral portion of the first and second shoes.
 12. Anapparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first and second fastenersare secured to a lateral portion of the soles of the first and secondshoes.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first andsecond fasteners are magnets having opposite polarities.
 14. Anapparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first and second fastenersare corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.
 15. An apparatus according toclaim 9 further comprising at least one decorative device that isreleasably securable to said first and second fasteners.
 16. A pair ofshoes that are releasably secured to one another, said pair comprising:an apparatus for releasably securing said pair of shoes, said apparatushaving a first fastener secured to a first shoe of said pair, and asecond fastener secured to a second shoe of said pair; and at least onedecorative device that is releasably securable to said first and secondfasteners; wherein said first and second fasteners are secured to alateral portion of said first and second shoes; and wherein said firstand second fasteners releasably secure the first and second shoestogether upon removal from an individual.
 17. A pair of shoes accordingto claim 16 further comprising at least one decorative device that isreleasably securable to said first and second fasteners.
 18. A pair ofshoes according to claim 16 wherein said first and second fasteners aresecured to an upper lateral portion of said first and second shoes. 19.A pair of shoes according to claim 16 wherein said first and secondfasteners are secured to a lower lateral portion of said first andsecond shoes.
 20. A pair of shoes according to claim 16 wherein saidfirst and second fasteners are magnets having opposite polarities.
 21. Apair of shoes according to claim 16 wherein said first and secondfasteners are corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners.